The Flite Test Master Series F-16 Viper, is released!
- Thread starter Test Fly RC
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- f-16 master series sbk
Flew the FT F-16 today. Very Scary! The FT recommended CG is way too far forward. I set mine at 2" from LE and it was way too nose heavy. If you recall I put my own retracts on the model from the Freewing F-16 which is the same size. I'm in Florida now and we have a paved runway at the RC Fliers of Venice field. It used almost the whole runway to take off. Barely got off the runway. At speed I had no elevator authority. Kicked in high rates and used all the up-trim. Thought I lost it. Slowed it down and it responded better. Made 2 go-arounds and landed hard on the runway. Tested the landing gear! Didn’t break and came home in one piece. Now I will balance according to Freewing F-16 pushing CG back another 1 1/2 inches and use a lighter battery…. Scary! Reminds me of another YouTube video with a guy on his maiden flight on the FT F-16 and he couldn't pull it up. Crashed in the woods... Their CG is was off. Freewing CG is 3 1/2 inches back and E-flite F-16 is 3 1/2 to 4 1/4 back from LE of wing at fuse....
MJSantito
Member
Where exactly are you measuring from the L.E.? Right where the fairing meets the L.E.? Elevator servo gears stripped? I know one thing I didn't like with just using Z bends was how much play was in the control surfaces and switched over to using connectors to keep everything as tight as possible. Just wondering if flutter could have been an issue. I still have yet to maiden mine as the weather in VT has not been good at all. Rain.. snow or high winds.
Measure from where the leading edge of the wing intersects with the fairing. Metal gear servos not stripped. I use Z bend at servo and adjustable connector at surface. There is no play. Where do you live in VT? I live in So Burlington and winter in Florida.
Moved my CG 3 1/2 inches from LE the same as Freewing 70mm F-16 and flew three more flights the other day. Much better elevator authority but still a lot of up to trim it out. See photos. I think it's still nose heavy and am going to move CG back farther and experiment. I'm using heavy 5000 batteries and installed my own retracts, wingtip mounts and canopy from Freewing F-16.
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Flew the F-16 3 flights again today with the CG moved back 4" from LE where it meets the fairing. Flew good and took 5 clicks of up trim out. Lands pretty slow and my added retracts have held up so far. Still can't do a loop though even with almost 45 degree up elevator. Was wondering why they have such large elevators and this must be why. Will keep CG here for a while and see how it behaves with more up elevator added. The jet is not that fast. With the added retracts I have air intakes where the front gear and main gear retract. For these flights today I have opened up small "cheater holes" in front of the EDF. They didn't seem to make much of a difference. Debating whether to open them up further.....
MJSantito
Member
How much weight did the retracta add?
Hard to say. They are very light. I bought the plastic mounting hardware also. Front gear was not that bad. Had to put a small servo in for steering. The rear were the issue. I had to build a structure to hold them and mount it to the plane. A lot of popsicle sticks and super glue. A pain to get them on the proper angle. I'm flying off a paved field here in Florida for the winter. The plane slows down nicely and flairs for the landing. I'm also flying with a 6s 5000 battery which weighs as much as the plane I think. CG is set at 4" back from LE where it meets the fairing. Could go back more I think. It won't do a loop! Even with that huge elevator.
Think I know why I can't do a loop! The 9g (small) servos I used for the elevator are not strong enough to actuate that huge elevator at high speed. Was fooling with the plane yesterday and held the elevator while actuating the elevator stick and there was hardly any force needed to keep the elevator from moving! So I just ordered some full sized servos and will replace the small ones I have in the plane. A pain but should improve control and make me happier flying it.
MJSantito
Member
In the islands
MJSantito
Member
Hmmm... I installed 9g metal gear servos. I'll see how they work I guess. LOL
mcmoyer
Active member
just depends on what you want out of it. I have this kit and using the speed build parts as a template, I've built 3 of these now. I know when a crash happens, I can easily make a replacement with foam board I have right next to my work bench.
That said, I also have a nice 64mm F-16 from Freewing that I also enjoy a lot. But when it crashes, I have to send off for replacement parts which I'm not fond of doing.
Could I get a weight of someone's F-16? I added landing gear to mine and am worried It will be too heavy to fly, as it sits around 1500 grams without battery and 2000 grams with. I have the recommended 70mm fan and was wondering if that would be enough, because I think she might fly like an underpowered brick.
mcmoyer
Active member
my build, with a 64mm fan in it weighed in at 770g without a battery. I flew it with a 4s and it floated like a glider. That was unpainted, and using regular DTFB.
mcmoyer
Active member
Ok, thanks for the help. We just did a full power test and it seemed to have plenty, so hopefully it will be ok.
